All posts tagged Chloe

Happy cold Monday family and friends! It has been quite cold here in Harrisonburg… and now it is snowing! Family Snow Day is about to be in FULL EFFECT. Chloe is in here practicing her snow angels as we speak! This weekend was one for the ages, and I am excited to share with you!

Chloe is 2 years oldA huge Happy Birthday to Cherelle’s & I pretty mini, Chloe, on her 2nd birthday this past Friday. Our theme was from Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood which is Chloe’s favorite show. Special thanks to the friends and family that joined us for this celebration. Chloe enjoyed her time of dancing and playing with her friends. Cherelle and I are truly blessed by Chloe and we continue to pray and hope that she will walk in purpose and destiny even at an early age. Hope you enjoy Chloe’s little glamor shot with her new sunglasses and jewelry.

DuRaG Reunion
This past Saturday night was epic as we gathered for the 10year reunion of DuRaG Ministries. It was close to unreal and it was as if God cued the snow just for us moments before the reunion service started. Some of our most pivotal moments and birth of the ministry came during the snow. In 2005 during a snow storm a group of us traveled throughout Bridgewater and Harrisonburg searching for a worship service, and when we couldn’t find a church open we gathered in my apartment for a time of worship, prayer, and sharing of the gospel. Not too long after that we had an accidental bible study on a Thursday night that hasn’t stopped yet. Even back then God was calling us to something greater than we could have ever imagined. Seeing True Worship, The Movement, and 3Spikes reunited in ministry this weekend was awesome. What a mighty time of worship and reminding of God’s glory! I am so grateful for the many people that we have had an opportunity to impact and those that are still a part of DUCC or DUU. When God connected Troy, Derrick, & I He put together a dream team. We literally helped each other grow up as men and ministers of the gospel. I love those guys and their families and we are still walking in Divine Unity! #jackedup It was also very special for me and DUCC to host this reunion as a reflection of the many works that God has done over the years.

3Spikes Not Conformed:
3 Spikes who is the HipHop Ministry that started during the DuRaG years. They have officially released their new album “Not Conformed”. I encourage you to get your copy asap. You can download it by clicking here. Also visit their facebook page for more information and booking: 3Spikes Facebook.

Bishop Jason Brownlee:Bishop Jason Brownlee was our guest minister this past Sunday. He is the founder and pastor of Life Changing Christian Center in White Plains, Maryland. He was one of the first pastors that reached out and invested in us when we started DuRaG Ministries. He started his church in 2005, and is celebrating his 10 year church anniversary. He actually preached two different messages between the two services, and they both were GREAT!

Service 1) Getting Ready for Breakthrough: He came from Isaiah 60:18 and encouraged us with this thought: “Where there is no challenge, there is no change. Where there is no change, there is no breakthrough. Where there is no breakthrough, there is no future.”
Service 2) Going Deeper: He came from Ezekiel 47:1-5 where he encouraged us with this thought- The greater the waters, the greater the works. To sum it up God is taking DUCC deeper into His healing and life giving waters, and there are many things that are going to flow through our church.

While DUCC continues to celebrate 3 years of ministry we are excited about what the Lord has done, and what He is about to do. As we near the end of the celebration I have the grand opportunity to close out the anniversary month as well as give more vision for the upcoming year for DUCC. I believe God is about to EXPAND our faith to another level.

We do pray that you continue to support our EXPAND Campaign. We are only in need of $4000 more to complete our expansion that will give us the opportunity to disciple and impact even more families and youth. Please visit our website to give a contribution to the vision: http://ducchurch.org/donate/

Chill (literally) WeekendLast Thursday was truly a winter wonderland, as we received at least a foot of snow (my estimation) here in Harrisonburg. Shoveling the driveway was not fun! But having a day with the family was great. Because of the snow, it gave me a chance to simply RELAX, and it was great! This was the NBA All-Star weekend, and I enjoyed every bit of it, especially the Dunk Contest & the actual All Star game, one of the best I have seen in a long time! Anyway, here are the Monday Moments, hope you are encouraged as you read!

Chloe Tiger Wow time flies! We had the opportunity to celebrate Chloe’s 1-year birthday. We had a small gathering to celebrate her life, partly due to the foot of snow on the ground, we couldn’t have everyone over to the house. But our theme was from the PBS Cartoon spin off of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood: “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood”. Chloe loves Daniel Tiger, so we have nicknamed her Chloe tiger, and Cherelle and I were in costume as Mommy & Daddy Tiger, whiskers and all. Chloe demolished her first cupcake (Please take some time to see the pictures). I have been amazed to see her embrace life. Seeing her walking around the house, eating, and playing is just a joy. Many people told me that parenthood would be a blessing, and would change my life, but I can truly say I know what they mean now. I rejoice at the thought of Chloe, and look forward to what the Lord is going to do in her life.

Pillars of Faith We were blessed this Sunday to have one of the most influential couples in my life and ministry, Pastor Art & Co-Pastor Dee. This couple has set a very living example of a Christ-Centered Marriage, quality parenting, and quality team work in ministry. I am humbled and honored to have had Pastor Art speak a word to DUCC, and into my life. Mentors like have and do serve as God’s instruments to help me grow as a man, husband, father, and pastor. Thank You Pastor Art & Co-Pastor Dee!

Personal Growth: This year has gotten off to a very hectic, challenging, yet productive start for me. As I look back over the month of January, and now February I can see that God is teaching me what it means to persevere. It is teaching me what it means to trust in Him and lean not unto my own understanding. I find myself camping out in Philippians 4:4-7, and I hope that this scripture can encourage you today, this week, and this season.

“4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Proud Poppa: My little girl will be 1 year old next month, and thus far all 11 months of her life has been a blessing to Cherelle and I. Chloe is walking everywhere now, and her newest update is using the potty! For parents you know how exciting this is. She enjoys it as well. At least she laughs when she tinkles (lol)! Go Chloe!

iRefuse: We had our first iRefuse Men’s breakfast of 2014 this past Saturday, and my good friend Timotheus Pope was our speaker. We had a powerful time in the Lord. We also had 46 men out!!! It was good to see men/boys ranging from ages 8-60. I truly believe when men are in the right place, things will change! #wewillchangetheworld

Believe: Over the month of January we have been digging into Matthew 16:13-27 with a focus on what it means to BELIEVE. Our series answered some of life’s biggest questions, and here is a summary: 1) The Believer’s confession (say it)- Who is Jesus? 2) The Believers Vision (see it)- Who am I & what was I created for? 3) The Believer’s Authority (live it)- How do I live out what I see? 4) The Believer’s Role (live it)- How do I follow Jesus? This may have been one of the most powerful sermon series we have had in our church. I truly believe as we prepare to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary as a church that the Lord needed to do some major work within us to prepare us for where we are going. Over the past few months I have been sensing that the Lord desires to do something beyond my expectations with and through DUCC, but He had to do some work to us before He could do more work through us. I am grateful that He is the Potter and we are the clay.

UPHELD: We are about to enter into our celebration month. We will be celebrating what the Lord has done and is going to do at DUCC. Our anniversary theme is found in Hebrews 12:1-2 where it says:

“1Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Throughout the month of February we will have many guest speakers come and share life giving sermons and words of encouragement that we may continue to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given us to be His witnesses in this world. As Divine Unity Community Church continues to move forward, I have been in a place of gratitude for God’s continual grace and presence resting over us. His word has been faithful to show us the way. I am grateful to pastor this church, and I am humbled at the opportunity. God is doing amazing things in amazing people’s lives and I get the opportunity to play a small part of His big plan.